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ANCC to Make Certification Available to All Registered Nurses Through Open Door 2000 Program - Reflects Growing Recognition of Certification as an Indicator of Competence
In response to the demands of today's health care environment for greater public accountability among nurses and other health care providers and as a means of providing an opportunity to demonstrate competence over a professional's lifetime of practice, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has unveiled a new, 21st Century model of credentialing, called Open Door 2000, to make certification accessible to all qualified registered nurses. Read the Press Release.
ANA Reaffirms Commitment to BSN for Entry into Practice - Supports New Certification Program to be Offered by ANCC
The American Nurses Association (ANA) Board of Directors reaffirmed its longstanding position that baccalaureate education should be the standard for entry into professional nursing practice. The reaffirmation follows on the heels of a recent decision by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to offer a new certification exam for nurses who hold a bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN), and to offer the present exams to nurses who hold an associate degree or diploma. Read the Press Release.
ANCC Modular Certifications
"Core-certified" nurses without a bachelor's degree in nursing are now eligible to sit for the Nursing Case Mangement and Ambulatory Care Nurse modular examinations. More...
Eligibility Requirements for Advanced Practice Nurses
The American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Certification (ANCC/COC) voted to drop the eligibility requirement of postgraduate supervised clinical practice for all advanced practice certifications as long as 500 hours of supervised clinical practice are required as part of the nursing educational program. More...
National Student Nurses Day - May 8
The third annual National Student Nurses Day will be celebrated on May 8, 2000, during National Nurses Week (NNW). The National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) collaborated with the ANA to establish this special day each year to honor nursing students throughout the country and provide them with special recognition. This is an opportunity for faculty to be recognized, and for faculty recognition of students. Nursing students are honored for their work in the classroom and in the community, as well as for their spirit and dedication to serving the public. Nursing students are encouraged to celebrate this special day through a wide range of campus and community projects.
Nursing students also collaborate with SNAs in promoting and participating in Nurses' Week activities while recognizing state student leaders. Activities include organizing health fairs and health screenings; visiting junior and senior high schools to promote nursing as a career choice; visiting long-term care facilities and children's hospital units as well as senior centers; and encouraging local media to do stories about nursing education and the profession of nursing.
The American Academy of Nursing and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Jointly Sponsor a Senior Scholar in Residence Program.
The American Academy of Nursing and
the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) jointly sponsor a
Senior Scholar in Residence program. The purpose is to encourage a senior
nurse scientist to develop areas of investigation that integrate clinical
nursing care questions with critical issues of quality, costs, and access.
Sally Lusk, PhD, RN, FAAN is the 1999-2000 AHRQ Scholar in Residence. Dr.
Lusk is focusing on issues related to primary care services and
occupational health and on development and coordination of collaboration
between NIOSH, specifically the National Occupational Research Agenda and
AHRQ.
More...
ANA/SNAs Focus Media on Workplace Violence
ANA and the SNAs successfully worked together to highlight the dangers of workplace violence. When ANA learned that the television show "ER" planned to air a storyline where a patient stabs two employees, killing one and severely injuring another, ANA put out a press release and worked closely with the SNAs to secure media coverage. For example, in Ohio, during the Feb. 10 episode of "ER" there were numerous commercials during the 11:00 pm news that mentioned ONA and the news segment included an interview with executive director, Ann Whitlatch, PhD, RN.
The segment focused on how workplace violence has become a real threat in central Ohio and across the nation. ANA was mentioned as the advocate for protecting nurses in all settings. An ONA representative stressed that many nurses are afraid to address workplace violence concerns and that ONA is available to help nurses get this message out. The need for hospitals to address workplace safety issues and discuss prevention tactics was reiterated. ONA also noted that local hospitals were addressing these concerns and discussed current contract language that helps to ensure the safety of nurses.
The Michigan Nurses Association also got coverage on the 11:00 pm news on Feb. 17 on WILK in Lansing. That report included an interview with executive director Tom Renkes, MS, RN. The segment focused on how nurses and health care professionals are confronted with violence in the workplace and some of the concerns that need to be addressed. Renkes talked about the importance of dealing with health and safety issues in contracts and ensuring the safety of health care workers who are caring for patients.
The New York State Nurses Association and the Massachusetts Nurses Association are actively working on getting media coverage on this issue.
UK Examining Roles Between Nurses and Doctors
A Pilot Project at Kingston Hospital in Surrey, England, will examine whether the roles of doctor and nurse could be merged to combine many of the tasks performed in hospital settings. Read more
September/October Issue of The American Nurse (TAN)
The Sept/Oct issue of TAN is online. Articles include: Working 'Round the Clock (feature); Massachusetts Board Reprimands Dana-Farber Nurses; Survey Highlights Nurses' Concerns About Health Care; Is there a Clinical Practice Guideline For....?; Nurses Prevail on OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard. Read more.
ICN 22nd Quadrennial Congress - Call for Abstracts
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has issued its first Call for Abstracts for the 22nd Quadrennial Congress, scheduled for 10 - 15 June 2001, Copenhagen. The deadline for submissions of abstracts is June 1, 2000. The theme for the Congress is Nursing: A New Era for Action. Abstract forms are available online from the ICN website at www.icn.ch.
Copies of the brochure may be obtained from ANA by contacting Cheryl Peterson at 202-651-7089 and cpeterso@ana.org, or Willieree Murray at 202-651-7075 and wmurray@ana.org.
New Rules for Controlled Substance Prescriptive Authority Proposed
Recently, the Florida Nurses Association (FNA) and the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists (FANA) filed motions to intervene in a rule challenge captioned as Florida Medical Association v. State of Florida, Department of Health Board of Nursing (Case No. 99-5337RP).
The Florida Board of Nursing (FBN), after much discussion and differing legal opinions, moved forward and published draft rules for controlled substance prescriptive authority. The Department of Health and the Florida Board of Medicine (FBM) believe that controlled substance prescriptive authority may be obtained only through additional legislation while the Board of Nursing, FNA, FANA and the ANA believe that enabling legislation presently exists which allows the Board to go forward with the rulemaking.
In 1996, the Florida Legislature created the Prescribing of Controlled Substances Task Force, which included physicians, ARNPs, a pharmacist and a hospital administrator. After much testimony and research, the task force prepared a report entitled "Prescribing of Controlled Substances by Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners" (the "Task Force Report") which was presented to the Governor and the Legislature in Dec. 1997.
The Task Force Report recommended that ARNPs be authorized to prescribe controlled substances under a protocol agreement with a practitioner licensed under Chapter 458 (physician), Chapter 459 (osteopathic physician) or Chapter 466 (dentist). The Task Force Report was reviewed by a joint committee comprised of members of the Board of Medicine, the Board of Nursing and the Department of Health whose legislative mandate is to identify medical acts, including prescriptive authority, to be performed by ARNPs.
The joint committee approved the controlled substance authority in regulation. The FBN used this decision by the joint committee and the original prescriptive authority delegated rulemaking statute, Section 464.006, Florida Statutes (1999) as the basis for going forward with the rules.
ANA President Responds to Aetna U.S. Healthcare Advertisement
On 2/1/00 Aetna U.S. Healthcare placed an advertisement in the 2/1/00 issue of the New York Times urging patients and medical professionals to share their ideas and timely issues in health care by email at dialogue@aetna.com.
ANA President, Mary E. Foley, MS, RN, responded to the advertisement on 2/16/00. Aetna continues to maintain a discriminatory policy by refusing to credential Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN), limiting patient access to high quality care provided by APRNs.
ANA encourages all healthcare professionals to answer Aetna's request for ideas by showing your support for APRNs as primary care providers. Read ANA's response.
Susan Bianchi-Sand Named Director of United American Nurses
Susan Bianchi-Sand, an accomplished labor leader and well-known women's rights activist, has been named director of the United American Nurses (UAN). UAN is the newly created national labor entity of the American Nurses Association, the oldest and largest professional association for registered nurses. Bianchi-Sand assumes the post on March 6, 2000. Read the Press Release.
World Health Day 2000
This year's theme for World Health Day 2000 is Be a Life Saver - Be a Blood Donor. The objective of this world initiative is to raise the awareness of the global community about the importance of blood safety and to encourage all nations to establish national blood programs, pass blood safety legislation and establish a framework to ensure a safe and adequate blood supply for their citizens. In the United States, we continue to have an insufficient number of blood donors. Many communities continue to suffer from a shortage of blood and blood products. Please consider giving blood and/or organizing a blood drive in your area. While April 7 is designated as World Health Day, this campaign is a year-long focus.
For information on how to hold a blood drive or additional information on World Health Day, contact the American Association for World Health at www.bloodsaveslives.net.
International Nurses' Day 2000
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has announced this year's theme for International Nurses' Day 2000--Nurses, Always There for You. International Nurses' Day is celebrated in conjunction with National Nurses Week, May 6-12. ICN has developed an International Nurses' Day Kit that includes: a press release; first person testimonials on nursing from patients and families; facts and figures about nursing around the world; and four fact sheets--Nursing and the Life Cycle, Nursing in Health and Sickness, Tele-nursing and Tele-health, and Nursing Working For Safety and Quality of Care.
For copies of the kit or additional information, contact Willieree Murray, International Nursing Center, at 202-651-7075 or wmurray@ana.org. Information may also be obtained from the ICN at icn@uni2a.unige.ch or by telephone at +41 (22) 908 0100.
New Efforts from WHO and UNO on Safety of Injections
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a fact sheet, Safety of Injections, that discusses the risks of unsafe injection to both the patient and the health care worker.
United Nations Organizations (UNO), in conjunction with governments and non-governmental organizations, are initiating a campaign - Safe Injection Global Network - focusing on the safe and appropriate use of injections.
Copies of the fact sheet may be obtained from Willieree Murray, International Nursing Center, 202-651-7075 or wmurray@ana.org or by contacting the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int or via email at inf@who.ch.
ANA First Vice President Joined President Clinton at White House
ANA First Vice President Barbara Blakeney, MS, RN, CS, ANP, joined President Clinton today, Feb.22, at the White House when he unveiled the administration's proposal to address the problem of medical errors. Ms. Blakeney reiterated ANA's support for a comprehensive approach that addresses the systems causes of errors rather than one that places blame on individuals. Read ANA Statement | ANA Testimony | ANA Press Release
MedicAlert Emergency Medical Information Training Program
MedicAlert Foundation USA, one of the world's largest nonprofit membership organizations, has developed a new training program designed to enhance awareness and use of its emergency medical information services by hospital emergency departments and other emergency responders.
ANA and the Emergency Nurses Association Board of Directors have reviewed the new education package and found the material both relevant and important. The training program includes visual aids, instructor and student participation manuals, case studies, and other important information.
To order, call 1(800)825-3785, e-mail materials@medicalert.org, or mail your request to MedicAlert Foundation, 2323 Colorado Avenue, Turlock, CA 95382.
Danish Nurses commemorate 100 years of Achieving Common Goals
The Danish Nurses' Organization (DNO) celebrated its 100th anniversary at The New Theatre in Copenhagen on October 27, 1999. This centennial celebration was one of many events and activities held to commemorate the DNO's 100th anniversary and the role of nurses in Denmark today.
"The core of nurses' work has always been and will always be care," was part of the message presented to the audience by Jette Soe, president of both the DNO and the Northern Nurses' Federation. The many prominent guests included Her Majesty the Queen Margrethe and Prime Minister Poul Nyrop Rasmussen. Many world-wide nursing representatives attended the centennial celebration, bringing congratulatory messages to the DNO. Judith A. Oulton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) was present on behalf of Kirsten Stallknecht, ICN president and former president of the DNO.
National Nurses Week 2000
"Nurses: Keeping the Care in Healthcare" is this year's theme for National
Nurses Week, celebrated May 6 - May 12 each year. National Nurses Week
begins on May 6, National Nurses Day, and ends on Florence Nightingale's
birthday, May 12. The nursing profession has been supported and promoted
by The American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1897. The ANA makes it easy
for you to celebrate and recognize nurses during this special week.
More information.
Ohio Nurses Receive New Bargaining Agreement
The Ohio State University Nurses Organization (OSUNO) has a new collective bargaining agreement. The Ohio Nurses Association, which represents the 1,100 registered nurses at the Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC), received the conciliator's award on Jan. 18. The award addressed two primary issues: (1) overtime and (2) salary.
On overtime, the conciliator awarded two options: (1) development of unit-by-unit procedures or (2) current contract language. The award also granted across-the-board pay increases- and steps based on seniority, retroactive to July 1, 1999.
"After very long and difficult negotiations, the parties have reached an agreement that allows greater participation by registered nurses in staffing and patient care decisions. We are looking forward to working with OSUMC . We made many improvements in the new agreement, which builds upon previous agreements," said Tracy Gabriel, RN, president of OSUNO.
The Health of Indigenous Peoples; A Concern for Nursing
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) recently released a fact sheet titled "The Health of Indigenous Peoples: A Concern for Nursing." In this fact sheet, ICN takes a closer look at the health status of indigenous people.
Historically, indigenous peoples have suffered from colonization, borne the impact of policies seeking to assimilate them into the dominant population, and suffered significantly from the effects of environmental degradation, armed conflict and the application of a western development model.
Today, there is greater acknowledgment that health professions need to add cultural competence to their repertoire of skills. The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and the New Zealand Nurses Organization (NZNO) have given much thought to how to promote cultural competence both in the way health care services are delivered and in the behavior of health care providers with respect to indigenous peoples. CNA identified a number of areas for consideration, which include addressing the socio-economic roots of ill health; addressing access issues; using existing strengths, resources and models; recognizing the contribution of traditional healing; educating indigenous health care providers and managers; increasing primary health care resources; and conducting more applied and participatory research.
In New Zealand, nursing has developed the concept of culture safety, which addresses the lack of sensitivity and understanding of some non-indigenous health professionals working with indigenous peoples and the often hostile culture of health care organizations receiving them. Today, indigenous peoples are not interested in integration of the two systems, but in finding ways to articulate traditional health with modern health care. For more information visit ICN's website www.icn.ch.
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